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Learning and Academic Support Centre

The Learning and Academic Support Center (LASC) at the University is to assist University students in developing skills and strategies they need to become confident, independent and active learners. The LASC will aim to help students meet the challenge of University's rigorous academic standards, to guide students in their adjustment to the University’s learning environment, and to prepare them for a lifetime of self-sufficient learning.  The University has a distinct approach to the undergraduate curriculum, with an emphasis on classroom based pedagogy and assessment, and on independent research and project based assignments.  As the primary academic support service for students at the University, the center assists students in transitioning to the SNU “way”; navigating its academic terrain; creating networks of resources; and achieving academic, personal and professional goals.

The center provides students a learning environment and experience that differs from the classroom; focusing on high-quality individual and small-group student-centered and student-led learning.  The University believes that all students can benefit from targeted review and additional academic support that seeks to combine an understanding of individual learning styles with peer-to-peer mentoring and teaching.  The Center's academic support services are based on the principle that quality learning takes place when peers work collaboratively to develop knowledge and build skills. The Center’s tutoring staff provides instructional approaches that are tailored to the skill levels and learning styles of students and encourages students to take responsibility for learning and their academic success.
 
The Center provides following services: 
 
1) Subject Tutoring: LASC provides subject specific tutoring for most University courses.  Qualified graduate students work with students on a one-on-one (or small group) basis and support them in achieving their academic goals for specific courses.  Tutors in turn focus on tutoring practices that integrate what to study with how to study, thereby fostering independent learning and developing skills that will transfer to other courses. 
 
2) Study Skills: In keeping with the LASCs mission to foster independent learning and transferable skills, graduate students and senior undergraduates serve as study skills tutors and provide information and resources to students who seek to strengthen their academic and organizational skills including time management, study strategies, research strategies, etc. 
 
3) Writing Support: Students who face difficulty in writing assignments such as term-papers and short assignments are provided support from writing support tutors who provide feedback on written assignments to students to help them develop and improve their writing skills.

4) Academic Improvement Plan: The objective of AIM is to assist students on academic probation to develop strategies and skills set that will help them improve their cumulative grade point average (CGPA). Each student on academic probation is assigned an academic counselor, typically a graduate student, who works with the Deans Office of Undergraduate Studies and the student’s faculty mentor or Department Undergraduate Advisor to develop Academic Improvement Plan (AIM) for the student.